Today in the article we will talk about the disease of the century - about osteochondrosis (in common people it is called chondrosis). Previously, this disease was associated with people over the age of 50, but now it is "younger" and affects everyone, starting with 15-year-old children.
Although it looks terrible, more and more people are diagnosed with osteochondrosis. According to statistics, almost 80% of the population of the planet Earth suffers from this spinal disease.
Read more about the diseases of civilization and how to live with them later in the article.
What is osteochondrosis?
This is a bone and cartilage disease, which is manifested by degenerative-dystrophic disorders of the cartilage structure of the spine, resulting in severe pain.
This degenerative disorder, in other words, changes in the spine occur under the influence of normal life factors, that is, just from the fact that we do something, stand, walk, move, carry heavy objects, etc. Our spine always does the most difficult work, it performs three main functions: supporting, protecting (protecting the spinal cord) and the depreciation function when walking and other body movements caused by the intervertebral disc.
Gradually, during life, prone to wear, loss of moisture, which causes microtears. There is a change in the height of the intervertebral disc and the vertebrae begin to irritate the spinal nerves, which causes pain attacks.
When the intervertebral disc loses its elasticity, excessive load on it leads to the so-called protrusion and hernia appears. It begins to affect the spinal nerves even more, in this case, if we talk, for example, about cervical chondrosis, the pain radiates to the hands, numbness of the fingers.
If you experience pain in the neck, thoracic spine or lower back, we recommend that you contact a neurologist or a vertebrologist, who deal specifically with diseases related to the spine. The sooner you get help, the sooner you get rid of the pain and reduce the risk of complications.
Reasons for the development of osteochondrosis
Osteochondrosis can develop for various reasons. Experts who study this disease believe that the main reason is the uneven and incorrect distribution of the load on the spinal column. Therefore, in places of excess, changes in the structure of the intervertebral disc are observed.
However, there are other reasons that contribute to the development of the disease:
- descent;
- age-related changes;
- injuries or congenital injuries of the spine;
- metabolic failure, overweight;
- Flat feet;
- rachiocampsis;
- concussion;
- various infectious diseases;
- spinal load during sports;
- exposure to chemicals.
There are also so-called risk factors, the presence of which can cause the development of the disease:
- every day driving a car or working on a computer;
- enhanced and serious training in the gym;
- overweight;
- unhealthy diet;
- lifestyle is not very active;
- smoking;
- hypothermia;
- nervous shock;
- incorrect posture;
- uncomfortable shoes and high heels;
- drag heavy;
- back muscle weakness;
- dependence on the weather, living in unsuitable climatic conditions.
If you belong to one of these risk groups, be sure to take osteochondrosis prevention (about a little lower) to prevent the development of osteochondrosis.
Types and symptoms
In total, there are four types of osteochondrosis. We will talk about them in this section.
Osteochondrosis of the cervical region
It is considered the most dangerous type of disease, because the cervical vertebrae are very mobile and even a small load can cause them to shift. What is the danger? The fact is that this is where the vertebral artery passes - this is a vessel that affects the pressure and state of the brain. These arteries provide blood supply to the brain areas responsible for blood pressure, for the rhythm of heart contractions and for vestibular stability. When the vertebrae are displaced, the arteries are pinched, which causes the blood flow to be interrupted, respectively, the brain no longer receives enough blood. The consequences are headaches, black dots that flash ("flies") in the eyes, dizziness, pressure jumps, memory impairment, and a general decrease in mental abilities.
Pain in the back of the neck, which radiates to the shoulders, under the shoulder blades, arms, fingers become numb.
Osteochondrosis of the thoracic region
This is a relatively rare disease, because the thoracic spine is the most mobile and is well protected by ribs and muscles. The cause of the development of osteochondrosis of the thoracic region is often scoliosis (curvature of the spinal column). It is quite difficult to recognize this particular disease, because the symptoms are very similar to other diseases, often chest osteochondrosis causes pain in the heart area, which mimics the symptoms of angina pectoris.
The disease manifests itself with pain in the spine between the shoulder blades, numbness and muscle weakness in the arms, stabbing, aching pain in the region of the thoracic ribs, aggravated by deep inspiration.
Lumbar osteochondrosis
It is considered the most common type of disease - lumbar osteochondrosis, because the greatest load falls on this part of the ridge. The lower back suffers the most from a sedentary lifestyle. Due to a pinched nerve in this part of the spine, a person feels a sharp pain or constant pain in the lower back, usually it radiates to the back of the thighs and buttocks, to the lower legs.
Attacks of pain are accompanied by numbness of the toes, tingling, creeping crawling on the back of the leg. The normal function of the genitourinary system and intestines is disturbed.
Extensive spinal osteochondrosis
It is characterized by the defeat of two or all three parts of the ridge at the same time.
level
In this section, we will talk about the stages of disease development, and how they manifest themselves. There are 4 stages of spinal disease in modern medicine:
- 1 level
At the first stage, it is quite difficult to diagnose this disease and, in principle, suspect it in yourself. Patients feel general discomfort in the back and often associate it with hard work, hard work, stress, and do not think to go to the doctor. The disease usually progresses slowly and in latent form, it is often discovered by chance, during a general examination of the patient (X-ray or MRI).
- 2 levels
The second stage is characterized by the occurrence of pain attacks, since the process of cartilage destruction begins. In the absence of treatment, the size of the intervertebral discs quickly decreases in the patient, they protrude slightly, this stage precedes the formation of a hernia. There is compression of the nerve root, in fact, therefore, there is a pain syndrome.
- 3 levels
In the third stage, the patient experiences serious changes in the spinal column. The development of lordosis, scoliosis, curvature of the upper part of the ridge (kyphosis), the hump begins, hernia of the intervertebral disc appears. The right therapy, of course, will not be able to fully restore the spine, however, it will improve its condition well and reduce defects, such as humps or curvature.
- 4 levels
If the disease has reached the fourth stage, then there are already irreversible changes in the spinal column. It becomes difficult to move, because every movement causes severe pain. Cartilage is compacted, vertebrae are displaced, bone tissue grows. Often at this stage, the patient is given a disability.
Medical treatment
After the specialist (bone specialist, neuropathologist, vertebrologist) makes a complete diagnosis and diagnoses osteochondrosis, he prescribes complex therapy, which includes various treatment methods. With the right combination of them, you can achieve excellent results in treatment:
- Preparation
First of all, the treatment is aimed at relieving pain attacks, for this, local analgesics and painkillers are prescribed. Then anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, antioxidant therapy is carried out. After you need to restore normal blood circulation.
- exercise therapy
When the drug treatment is finished and the inflammation is removed, you can and should go to an exercise therapy class, in principle, you can do exercises at home yourself, but it is better to exercise with a specialist first, and then apply the knowledge gained at home.
- Manual therapy
Manual therapy is also very useful, it helps increase the distance between the vertebrae, release trapped nerves and blood vessels, facilitate and speed up tissue healing. Stray spines are removed. The main thing you should pay attention to when choosing a chiropractor is whether he has a doctor's diploma, a neurologist's certificate and a chiropractor's certificate. If at least something is missing, then you should not be treated by this specialist.
- Acupuncture
Reflexology (acupuncture) is also no less effective. It can be said that it produces a magical effect, almost from the first session you will feel its analgesic effect, the swelling will subside in the place of the pinched nerve, and the muscle spasm caused by the pain attack will be relieved. Relieves inflammation, removes finger numbness, characteristic of this disease, restores nerve signaling pathways.
- Stone therapy
Stone therapy or stone therapy warms the muscles very well, improves blood flow and nutrition of the intervertebral discs.
- Magnetotherapy
With magnetotherapy, the patient will also be able to feel better. It helps reduce blood viscosity, improve nutrition of damaged tissues, reduce swelling, restore mobility and more.
- Swimming pool
Often, patients are recommended special exercises in the swimming pool, as well as floating - this procedure allows you to completely relax the spine because it is in a salt solution, thanks to which the patient "floats" and all the load is removed from the spine.
In principle, as a prevention of osteochondrosis, you can go to float in any SPA-salon, this service is offered almost everywhere.
- Operation
In severe cases, an operation is prescribed, in which the hernia and the affected disc are removed, and the structure of the spine is stabilized. Surgery is a big risk for the patient, so it is done in emergency cases.
In the early stages of osteochondrosis, you can quickly get rid of it, and you only need to do a few exercises to prevent recurrence. The therapy complex will be selected by the attending physician, taking into account all the characteristics of your body.
Treatment at home
As we have mentioned above, it is important to carry out the first exercises of exercise therapy under the supervision of a specialist so as not to overload the spinal column. But after a few sessions, you can do the exercises at home.
After gymnastics at home, people with a diagnosis of spinal disease are advised to do the massage themselves, you can ask someone close to help you.
You need to start with gentle strokes along the entire spinal column. Then the muscles in the neck, chest and lower back are kneaded in a circular motion or by pinching, there is no need to press hard with the fingertips. You can also rub the space between the ribs, also without pressing hard.
It is very important if you have a disease, which we talked about in the article, to eat properly. What diet to follow and what foods are best excluded from the diet in the next section.
Diet for osteochondrosis
Proper nutrition for chondrosis includes the use of products containing substances that promote the formation of cartilage in the spine - mucopolysaccharides. Most of them are in various jellies, jellies, fish jellies. For dessert, jelly is perfect, where the main ingredient is gelatin, and it, in turn, is saturated with mucopolysaccharide.
In addition, you need to drink a lot of water, the lack of which leads to damage to the intervertebral disc, and this leads to the first manifestation of the disease.
Vegetables and fruits are one of the most important foods for chondrosis, their use is necessary for healthy ridge function. It contains unsaturated fatty acids that the body needs.
What can and should you eat?
The body needs many trace elements:
- One of them is calcium, it is found in milk, almonds, hard cheese, cottage cheese, beans.
- Vitamin D is needed for calcium absorption: eggs, sea fish, butter. In addition, it is recommended to be in the sun regularly.
- Calcium is stored in bone tissue only with a sufficient amount of magnesium in the body; it is found in cucumbers, nuts, and avocados.
- In addition, it is important to eat foods that contain phosphorus: fish, soybeans, beans, white cabbage.
- Vitamin B is also very important for our diseases, to get it you need to eat: beef, pork, mushrooms, seafood, grains. Vitamin A is also useful and is found in carrots, watermelon, pumpkin, and liver.
In general, as you can see, the diet is not terrible, you do not need to starve, you just need to exclude something from your menu, but there is something to replace this product.
What is not recommended for use
- The first thing to say is to reduce the amount of salt used. Especially if you have cervical osteochondrosis, then a salt-free diet will be useful.
- The ban also includes marinades, semi-finished products, spicy foods, pickles.
- Sweets, like salt, slow down blood circulation, and if we already have a disrupted blood supply to the brain, then sweets will only worsen the situation.
- We exclude coffee and all types of soda from the menu, because they do an excellent job of removing calcium from the body, as well as potassium, magnesium and other important minerals.
And, of course, it is very important to monitor your weight, especially with lumbar chondrosis, because the lumbar region already takes all the main load, and if the weight is large, imagine how difficult it will be for him to overcome it!
The diet can also be observed as a preventive measure, even if you do not have a diagnosis of osteochondrosis, all the vitamins and minerals indicated in the chondrosis diet will in any case be very useful for your body.
Listen to your body carefully and don't be afraid to seek help from a doctor if necessary.
We wish you good health!